5 things to know about high performers

In an article on Entrepreneur.com titled, “Getting More from Your Employees,” Ray Sullivan defines the 20-60-20 rule: The top 20 percent of employees get 80 percent of the work done, with the rest done by the average employees (60 percent) and little if any done by the worst 20 percent. In an article in HC Online called “End 'equal treatment' today! Focus on high performers,” HR expert John Sullivan says those high-performing workers can achieve as much as 12 times more than their average counterparts.

Bottom line, high performers are the people who give discretionary effort and really move your business forward.

While you’re not trying to hire average employees, clearly, you could skyrocket your business results if you could find and fill your team with just the top 20th percentile. So how do you separate the brilliant wheat from the everyday chaff? It’s not easy, but there are a few behavioral and attitudinal factors you can watch for during interviews.

Here’s what we know about high performers:

1. They look great on paper

Closely scrutinize those college transcripts and ask for a copy or photo of their diplomas. Contact every one of their references. They should get glowing reviews from people who are eager to talk about them. Look for awards and letters of recommendation in their files, because these can suggest a super achiever who can hit the ground running.

2. They can articulate their goals

If you ask high achievers what they want to be doing in five, 10 or 20 years, they can describe at least roughly what that looks like and what steps they need to get there. They don’t just live in the here-and-now. They think ahead and proactively build the skill sets they need to achieve their goals.

Laura Stack helps leaders turn strategy into performance. For 22 years, her keynotes and seminars have helped leaders, teams and employees execute efficiently, improve output, and build high-performance cultures. Stack is the president of The Productivity Pro, a training company helping professionals achieve Maximum Results in Minimum Time®. She’s the author of six books, most recently, Execution IS the Strategy. www.TheProductivityPro.com.